More than 120 military homes in Woolwich upgraded for families returning from Cyprus

More than 120 military homes in Woolwich are being refurbished for families of soldiers returning from Cyprus, as the MOD continues efforts to improve Armed Forces accommodation. 

The properties at Woolwich Barracks in south London are being upgraded ahead of the return of the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment.

The work includes new kitchens, bathrooms, flooring and heating systems, with some families already living in renewed homes.

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Defence Secretary John Healey and Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook visited the site and met families who have moved into refurbished properties.

The Woolwich homes are part of a wider housing programme covering more than 40,000 service family homes across the UK.

Around 14,000 properties are due to receive substantial refurbishment or replacement, while the MOD has said 1,250 of the worst-condition homes have already been brought up to standard.

The programme follows years of complaints from Armed Forces families about the condition of service accommodation, including problems with damp, mould, heating failures and delays to repairs.

Mr Healey said: "Our Armed Forces and their families give so much in service to this country, and when they return from deployment they deserve to come home to a property they can be proud of.

"That's exactly what we're delivering here in Woolwich – modern, refurbished homes fit for heroes, backed by our government's record investment. I'm determined that every service family gets the decent home they deserve."

The work follows the publication of the Defence Housing Strategy, a 10-year plan to improve Armed Forces accommodation.

It also comes after the MOD brought 36,000 service family homes back into public ownership, ending a long-running lease arrangement and giving the department more control over the military housing estate.

The department said the move would save taxpayers £600,000 a day.